Suspension of the “FaceBoarding” service at Milano Linate Airport following the decision of the Italian Data Protection Authority

SEA Milan Airports (SEA) announces the suspension of the “FaceBoarding” facial recognition service at Milano Linate Airport. This decision follows the measure notified by the Italian Data Protection Authority, after a series of checks on the airport system and based mainly on the non-binding Opinion 11/2024 of the European Data Protection Board, issued in relation to a case considered similar.

For SEA, the first airport operator in Italy to use this technology, the Authority has ordered the provisional limitation of the processing of biometric data through the “FaceBoarding” system, pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The service, which allowed passengers to access security checks and boarding procedures via an innovative facial recognition system on a voluntary basis only, has therefore been suspended in compliance with the Authority’s provisions. The FaceBoarding service, first presented to the Italian Authority in December 2019, has been the subject of ongoing discussions with the Authority regarding its evolution and implementation.

With FaceBoarding, SEA intended to provide a service that enhances airport security through a system that, fully compliant with privacy regulations and available only to adults who voluntarily request and register for it, ensures and facilitates passengers by offering them a safer, faster, and smoother travel experience, in line with innovative technological services.

SEA, believing itself to be compliant with the applicable regulations, is actively cooperating with the Authority to clarify all aspects related to data processing and to comply with the requests received. SEA’s primary goal remains to guarantee passenger safety and privacy, in full accordance with current regulations.
SEA hopes the situation will be resolved as soon as possible and that the “FaceBoarding” service can be reinstated for the benefit of all passengers.